​Kuala Lumpur, October 25: Malaysia’s second highest world-ranked golfer Arie Irawan has been accorded a spot at the CIMB Classic following Danny Chia’s qualification through the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.The 25-year-old Arie will make his debut at the US$7 million PGA TOUR FedExCup event which begins on Thursday at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club. Arie is the only player to win twice on the Asian Development Tour this season claiming his breakthrough victory at the PGM Sime Darby Harvard Championship earlier in January followed by ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational in April. Chia previously held the exemption as the highest ranked Malaysian on the Official World Golf Ranking as aof September 30. However, a victory at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters and a T8 at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC in Chinese Taipei earlier this month moved him into the top-10 of the Asian Tour's Order of Merit, through which he will now qualify for the CIMB Classic.Arie commented, “It is an honour and I am blessed to be given the exemption to play at the CIMB Classic, my first PGA TOUR tournament and it is indeed one of the highlights of my career. This will be a whole new experience especially competing amongst the world’s top best golfers and I hope to play at my best.” Also debuting at the CIMB Classic is Ben Leong, who earned his spot by winning the SapuraKencana National Qualifier in August. The Malaysian trio will face-off against international stars that include 2013 FedExCup champion Henrik Stenson, Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els.“We are proud that for the first time, the CIMB Classic will feature three Malaysian players," said Effendy Shahul Hamid, CEO, Group Asset Management and Investments of CIMB Group."The CIMB Classic brings to the table some of the highest standards of professional golf.I am delighted to see home-grown players rising up to the standards, as a result of a lot of hard work and determination in their game. We wish all the best to Arie, Ben and Danny who will be carrying the Malaysian flag and pride this week," he added.

Puchong, Malaysia, October 24: Young Thai talent Poom Saksansin captured his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory after closing with a classy six-under-par 64 to win by one shot at the PGM Kinrara Championship on Saturday.

The 22-year-old Thai, who held a one-shot lead heading into the final round, fired seven birdies against a lone bogey for a winning total of 12-under-par 198 at the RM200,000 (approximately US$50,000) ADT event.

Filipino Mars Pucay returned with the day’s lowest score of 63 to take second place at the Kinrara Golf Club. His impressive bogey-free run would have set a new course record if not for the preferred lies in place.

Thailand’s Ronnachai Jamrong and local stalwart Shaaban Hussin settled four shots back in third place following rounds of 67 and 68 respectively while Japanese Masaru Takahashi (67), Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden (67) and Malaysia’s Sukree Othman (69) shared fifth on 204 at the PGM Kinrara Championship, which is the 23rd leg of the ADT schedule this season.

Poom, who joined the play-for-pay ranks in 2013, capped a flawless front nine 30 highlighted by four straight birdies starting from the sixth hole before adding two more birdies against a lone bogey on his way home.

“I got off to a superb start. I was just thinking about winning out there. I played well. My iron-shots and my short game were great. I was really nervous coming in. I thought I was leading by a lot but was surprised to see Mars (Pucay) just one shot back coming to the last hole,” said an upbeat Poom.

Poom will take home a prize purse of US$8,371 and receive six Official World Golf Ranking points courtesy of his victory.

“I was feeling disappointed coming to this week because I missed the halfway cut on the Asian Tour in Macao last week. To win on the ADT this week is just a great boost of confidence for me. This is only my second professional win and my first outside of Thailand. It really means a lot,” Poom added.

Despite having to rue a missed opportunity for a maiden ADT win, Pucay was delighted to breathe some new life into his lacklustre season where he had made only two halfway cuts on the ADT this season.

“I have been struggling with my game for a while. I didn’t expect myself to shoot a 63 today so I am very happy with how I played, even though I did not win. I practiced a lot on my short game before coming here. I’m glad the efforts have paid off.

“I’m definitely taking a lot of positives from this week, hopefully this will set me in good shape for the Asian Tour’s Resorts World Manila Masters next month,” said the 45-year-old Filipino, who needed only 25 putts.The PGM Kinrara Championship was earlier reduced to 54 holes by tournament officials after the first round was postponed to Thursday due to bad haze in the local area.

With the Olympic Games looming in 2016 where golf will be reintroduced as a medal sport, players in the region could earn their spots in Rio de Janeiro by earning Official World Golf Ranking points through the Asian Tour and ADT.

The ADT is celebrating its sixth season where it has grown immensely from five events in the first year in 2010 to a record 27 tournaments in 2015.

Thailand’s Natthapong Niyomchon won the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour’s RM180,000 Port Dickson Championship today, but not before Kenneth De Silva carded a career-best 62 that took him to within one stroke of a playoff.

Natthapong fired a 68 for a 15-under 269 total and a cheque worth RM30,600. Meanwhile, De Silva’s nine-under-par round lifted him to 270, for which he picked a cheque of RM20,160.

The Malaysian’s impressive effort was his second 62 and would have been a new course record, but for the preferred lies – due to the recent heavy rains. Still it left the 24-year-old a happy man.

“I played very well today. My whole game was smooth but my putting was the outstanding part of it, which really made the difference. I had 10 birdies in the round and one bogey and felt comfortable all through the day,” said De Silva.

Looking ahead, De Silva added: “A round of golf like this gives you more confidence and I’ll be happy to go to Kinrara Golf Club next week for the PGM Kinrara Championship. I won there earlier this year and that is my favourite golf course.”

De Silva claimed the Kinrara Closed Championship there in January and will start next week’s event, which is co-sanctioned with the Asian Development Tour, as one of the favourites.

Natthapong played steady golf that saw him sign for a bogey-free round, which had three birdies in it – all of them coming on the second nine, with the one at the 16th proving the most crucial as it sealed the victory for him.

Also pleased with his performance and delighted with the win, the Thailand pro said: “Yes I am very happy to win here. I like playing in Malaysia and the golf course here in Port Dickson was very good.”Mike Bibat of the Philippines shot a 70 for an 11-under 273 total and third place, while Nattawat Suvajanakorn, also of Thailand, carded a 70 for a 10-under 274 in fourth spot.

Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (67) and Nirun Sae-Ueng (71), both of Thailand, were tied for fifth on eight-under-par 276, while Malaysia’s R. Nachimuthu, who had a last round 66, was joint seventh with Singapore’s Koh Dengshan, who also closed with a five-under. Sukree Othman, another of the local contingent, was ninth – he shot a 69 for a 278 total.

M Sasidaran shot a 65 to join his Malaysian compatriot Kemarol Baharin (68) and Thailand’s Pijit Petchkasem (69) on 279 in a tie for 10th place.